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DOMENICO PISANA ( Italy)

DOMENICO PISANA,Born in Modica in 1958, Doctor of Moral Theology, he is the founder and President of the Quasimodo Coffee Cafe in Modica. Poet, literary critic and essayist with several works translated entirely into Polish, Spanish, Romanian and English, he published 9 volumes of poetry, 6 books of literary criticism, among which stands the essay on Quasimodo That Nobel from the South – Salvatore Quasimodo between glory and oblivion, translated, in 2011, in Romanian. He also published 11 texts of a theological and ethical nature, among which the volume, published by San Paolo editions, stands out. On your word I will throw the networks, translated into Polish and Spanish, as well as “3 volumes of historical-political character. In 2006 the Municipal Administration and the Pro Loco of Modica awarded him the Gold Medal of the “Premio della Modicanità”; nominated for several awards, in November 2016 he was awarded the “Premio Federico II” to culture; in January 2017 he received the “European FARFA Prize” for culture and territory, awarded to him by the International Association of Literary Critics based in Paris; in September 2017 he was awarded the “Magister Vitae” Prize for the contribution to culture in San Vito Lo Capo (Trapani) as part of the 5th Edition of the Vito Ruggiriello Memorial.

During the Ancient Greek period, Ragusa was named Hybla Heraia in honor of Hera, goddess who protected the fields; the city was ruled by the Greeks many times.

In 1090 a great popular insurrection, supported by Norman spies, permanently chased the Arabians away from the whole Ragusan area, activating a cruel hunting for invaders. Since the Norman period, the city was ruled, except for some brief interruptions, by several earls, even during Angevin andAragonese dominations, thanks to the ancient privileges that in 1091 the

Great Earl Roger granted to his son Goffredo, first Earl of Ragusa, who

could govern it with great autonomy.

On January 11th, 1693, a devastating earthquake destroyed the ancient city and provoked about five thousand deaths on a population of thirteen thousand citizens.

You reawaken, Ibla,

dreams of curious travellers, whose eyes

lay down on wonderful arches and portals,

on balconies sustained by satanic figures,

on marquetry and battlements of your splendid church

a destination for Saint George Martyr devotees: 12

fiction characters set the scene

carrying away baroque civilizations and beauties,

human feelings and the turmoil of life.

Like a mother

you stretch out your arms, Ibla,

towards the horizon coming out from your womb,

where the tolling of the Cathedral

has been calling for centuries

joyful generations of people.

You shine, Ibla,

like a jewel on a woman’s finger,

you’re wrapped in a blanket of beauty

never worn out by the time

and the negligence of people.

The Cathedral of Saint George is one of the highest examples of Baroque architecture in the world; the ancient church was located on the east side of the built-up area, and its ancient gate is still there. It was built again in place of the church of Saint Nicholas, which followed the Greek rite until the XVI century. The famous architect Rosario Gagliardi was charged with the plan.

Its being located on the top of a high staircase and being posited obliquely in respect to the underlying square, highlights its majesty and plastic effects.

The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of the biggest in Sicily; before the earthquake it was located on the west side of the city, under the castle walls. It has a majestic facade, full of carvings and sculptures, it is divided in five parts by huge columns; on its left side a bell tower is located and

rises to more than 50 metres. Its interior has a Latin cross plan and an apsed chancel, it is divided in three wide naves with fourteen columns in Ragusan pitched stone.

In 1927, thanks to the well know fascist, Filippo Pennavaria, Ragusa was named as a county town (Modica was supposed to be a county town because of the number of its citizens; however Ragusa joined up Ibla and gained over Modica).

A CITY OF BRIDGES

When an evening in May Ponte Vecchio,

a creature born in a Capuchin heart,

through the valley that once was an obstacle to our fathers

recalls a time for dreams,

the air becomes sweet for me as well,

and the swallows fly back again

to the mouldings of buildings.

From Ponte vecchio to Littorio

walking around thoughtful, with a soft and light pace.

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), or Ponte dei Cappuccini (Capuchin Bridge,also known as Ponte Padre Scopetta), is the oldest bridge in Ragusa and crosses vallata Santa Domenica (Saint Dominica valley), connecting the historical centre with the Southern side of the city. At the beginning of the

XIX century, there was a need to put San Giovanni (Saint John) district together with the small built-up part which was growing up on the other side of vallata Santa Domenica, near the Capuchin convent. Padre Gianbattista Occhipinti Scopetta, belonging to the homonimous Occhipinti family and known as “Scopetta”, a well-known nickname in Ragusan area, sponsored the work, which started in 1837 and finished in 1843. (Cfr.:htpp://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Ponte_Vecchio_(Ragusa).

Ponte Nuovo (New Bridge) or Ponte F. Pennavaria (also known as Ponte del Littorio, Lictorial Bridge), is a bridge in Ragusa.. It was the second one crossing vallata Santa Domenica, and becoming the main arterial road between the historical centre and the Southern side of the city. In 1932, Ragusa municipality announced a competition for designing a second bridge over vallata Santa Domenica, since Ponte Vecchio was insufficient for the traffic of that period. The roman engineer Aurelio Aureli won the competition and the money were found by the government undersecretary Filippo Pennavaria. (Cfr.: htpp:// it.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Ponte_ Nuovo_ (Ragusa)

I discover your ancient districts, Ragusa,

where human hands put down in the past

a seed of faith.

From on high the landscape is magic,

muttering trees caressed by the evening warmth,

sparkles sparkling on Ponte nuovo

whereon I’m walking very slowly

and my eyes are stretching out on the valley

which is ready to fall

asleep in the night.

Your bridges, Ragusa,

invite every heart to open up

recall heavenly ancestries,

sing a song of sympathetic friendship,

mourn the demise of young people who rejected life,

dream of love when emotionless people pass.

City of bridges, please,

on your face caressed by the silence

where the moon shines, let life start again

for the hard-working people

while their soul, in certainty and trust

looks for the good and communion.

Ponte Papa Giovanni XXIII (Pope John XXIII Bridge) is the third bridge in Ragusa and trespassed vallata Santa Domenica, which separates the historical centre from the Southern side of the city. It was completed in 1964,one year after the deat of Pope John. It is also known as Ponte Nuovissimo

(Very New Bridge), since it was built after Ponte Vecchio (1843) and Ponte